Shawshank Redemption’s Ending Plot Hole Addressed By Star Tim Robbins 30 Years After Release

The Shawshank Redemption star Tim Robbins addresses the movie’s infamous plot hole 30 years later. Directed by Frank Darabont and based on a novel by Stephen King, The ShawshankRedemption stars Robbins as Andy Dufresne, a man serving two life sentences in Shawshank prison after being falsely accused of killing his wife and her lover. The film, which also stars Morgan Freeman as inmate Ellis “Red” Redding, is widely celebrated today for its strong performances and themes, but one aspect of the film involving Andy’s Raquel Welch poster has long been deemed a “plot hole.”

During a recent interview at the Turner Classic Movies Festival in celebration of the film’s 30th anniversary, Freeman asks Robbins about the Welch poster plot hole that happens towards The Shawshank Redemption‘s ending.

The plot hole accusation is predicated on the idea that Andy, as he stages his epic escape from Shawshank, would not have been able to secure the poster in place behind him after crawling through the hole in the wall. According to Robbins, however, there’s a very clear solution. “This is so easy,” he explains, “Pinned up here. Pull up here. Go underneath, go in,” he reasons, acting out Andy securing only the top half of the poster and then crawling underneath it.

Is The Shawshank Redemption The Best Stephen King Adaptation?

The Frank Darabont Film Is An Undeniable Classic

King is one of the most adapted authors in history, and new takes on his books continue to be released today. Although there are now a great number of King movie adaptations, the number of these adaptations that are critically acclaimed is relatively small. The Shawshank Redemption earned mostly positive reviews in 1994, but it was an infamous disappointment at the box office, only earning the reputation it has today upon being discovered by viewers years after the movie’s release.

It now sits among movies like The Green Mile, The Shining, Carrie, Stand By Me, and Misery as one of the best King adaptations of all time. Interestingly, as shown by movies like The Shawshank Redemption, Stand By Me and The Green Mile, the best King adaptations tend not to be horror movies, despite the author being best known for his work in the genre. The Shawshank Redemption trades scares for a thoughtful exploration of friendship, freedom, and exactly what it means to be imprisoned.

The Shawshank Redemption‘s Rotten Tomatoes score is an impressive 89%, beaten only by Stand By Me (92%) and Carrie (93%). Whether Carrie truly is the best King adaptation will, however, be a matter of personal preference. Clearly, though, The Shawshank Redemption has struck a chord with viewers, and the fact that questions still linger about the Welch poster scene only reinforces what a profound cultural impact the movie has had.

Source: Turner Classic Movies

The Shawshank Redemption

Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman star in Frank Darabont’s 1994 adaptation of Stephen King’s novella Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption. After being sentenced to life in prison for the alleged murder of his wife, Robbins’ Andy Dufresne learns the value of hope, persistence, and true friendship as he befriends kindhearted convicts like Freeman’s “Red” Redding and uses his wits to expose the secret crimes of Bob Gunton’s cruel penitentiary warden Samuel Norton.

Director

Frank Darabont

Release Date

October 14, 1994

Studio(s)

Columbia Pictures

Distributor(s)

Columbia Pictures

Writers

Frank Darabont

Cast

William Sadler , Tim Robbins , Bob Gunton , Clancy Brown , Morgan Freeman

Runtime

142 minutes

Budget

$25 million